Aiding Disadvantaged & Traumatized Women & Girls

The organization for Aiding Disadvantaged and Traumatized Women and Girls (ADWANGA) is a national non-governmental organization registered and operating in Liberia since April 2005. ADWANGA was founded by Amelia M. Thomas Cooper as a way of contributing to the rebuilding of Liberia, after 14 years of conflict.

ADWANGA operates in five thematic areas:

1. Educational support to adolescent girls
2. Economic empowerment (Skills and Agricultural training)
3. Gender-based violence including Access to Justice, Awareness raising and psychosocial support
4. Adult literacy and
5. Reproductive heath

ADWANGA operates in an environment that has been characterized by growing conflicts propelled by not only economic factors, but also by the increased in teenage pregnancy, rape, stigma against women and girls living with HIV/AIDS, and also by the violation of fundamental human rights including harmful traditional and religious norms which discriminate against women and girls.

ADWANGA therefore envisages the challenge to transform the negative factors impeding the development and full participation of vulnerable people in socio-economic as well as political activities. Since its establishment, ADWANGA has been providing services and support (financial and in kind) to disadvantaged and traumatized girls and women in Liberia predominantly in Montserrado and Nimba Counties. ADWANGA has also encouraged the participation of women and girls in civil and political matters. During the 2005 and 2009 Legislative and Presidential elections, ADWANGA was involved in sensitizing women about the rights, roles and responsibilities in the process, thereby encouraging them to participate in the elections. As a member of the “WOMEN WON’T WAIT” coalition, ADWANGA has received support from Action Aid-Liberia to carry out activism on violence against women and women’s rights advocacy in Tappita, Nimba County in Northern Liberia.

VISION
ADWANGA hopes to see women and girls of Liberia empowered and are fully involved in the process of governance and decision-making and as well enjoy their full rights and protection under the law.

MISSION STATEMENT
The organization for Aiding Disadvantaged and Traumatized Women and Girls (ADWANGA) works to promote women and girl’s empowerment and participation in policies and decision-making in Liberia through programs that will enhance their self– esteem, dignity and self–reliance.

Objectives

1. Enhance knowledge and understanding amongst women and girls on their sexual rights, reproductive health issues, early or forced marriages, violence in school and in home, and to build their Capacity to advocate for these rights.
2. To build the capacity of community members to advocate for and enhance the rights of women and girls in general and specifically victims of VAW as spelt out in the Rape Law 2006, revised Domestic Relation and the Equal Rights and Customary Marriage Laws.
3. To support legal aid services with emphasis for survivors of VAW thereby promoting and protecting the rights of womenand girls.           
4. To provide skills training and basic business skills to women and girls to enhance their self-reliance.
5. To ensure those adolescent girls are provided with basic educational support.
6. To enhance STEM education opportunities for underprivileged youth, particularly girls, in targeted regions of Liberia

Overall:
ADWANGA operates in an environment that has been characterized by growing conflicts propelled by not only economic factors, but also by the increased in teenage pregnancy, rape, stigma against women and girls living with HIV/AIDS, and also by the violation of fundamental human rights including harmful traditional and religious norms which discriminate against women and girls.

Success

1. ADWANGA Purchased 15 acres of land in Tappita, Nimba County and has constructed     
2. Resource Center which is at 50% complete.
3. From 2010-2011 we were able to win 7 cases out of 10 that went to court.
4. ADWANGA have trained more than 250 women and girls in Agriculture, Business   
5. Skills Training.

• More than 50 women have been trained to read and write through our Adult Literacy program
• ADWANGA have trained 1,200 public school teachers in Child-centered and Gender Responsive teaching. High performance of students in schools can be attributed to the use of learner centered and Gender pedagogical skills acquired by teachers during the training.

Challenges

1. Bad roads condition

• Accessing long term funding.

Future

1. ADWANGA intends to have yearly funds rising, continue to lobby with the appropriate government agencies and other national and international partners for support

ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE
Decision making structure: Structurally, ADWANGA consists of a Board of Advisers which considers the gender dimension and the socio-economic strata that permeates Liberia Societies. The Board consists of Nine (9) members comprising five (5) females and four (4) males and is headed by a renowned Liberia female educator, Dr. Evelyn Kandadai.
Below the Board is a management team headed by the Executive Director and other senior Program Officers.

Management and technical capacity: ADWANGA’s structure comprises a national coordination office headed by the Executive director and a core of other professionals with wealth of experience and dedication to serving humanity. Other includes: Administrative/Finance, Project Officer, Etc.